Job Description. Music Director, Lutheran Church of the Nativity

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1 Job Description Music Director, Status: Exempt Whereas the is a congregation of the North Carolina Synod of the ELCA, all members of the employed and volunteer staffs shall: 1. Have specific skills related to their particular responsibilities; 2. Manifest a dedicated and fervent Christian spirit; 3. Deal graciously with all people; 4. Joyfully cooperate with those persons with whom they serve; and 5. Have a growing understanding, appreciation, and enthusiasm for the ministry of the. The holy work of Music Director shall be executed according to the following job description. Annual performance reviews will be conducted in reference to each section. I. Conditions of Employment A. Qualifications: The Music Director shall have a passion to make Christ known to all members of the congregation. She/he shall be familiar with and understand both traditional and contemporary liturgical practices, and she/he shall be capable of performing the task of musical leadership in a variety of styles. The Music Director shall be proficient in playing both piano and organ and have the ability to direct choirs and accompany musicians; thus, the Music Director s function is deliberately and fundamentally collaborative. She/he shall have the ability to plan, organize, and implement the musical program of this church, in full cooperation with the Lead Pastor for Worship (and/or any other pastor designated by the Lead Pastor for Worship). B. Employment Level: The Music Director shall be a full-time salaried employee, with specific duties, office hours, and regular weekly expectations determined on an annual basis. This congregation s definition of full-time for the Music Director is 33 hours of service per week, with office hours on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays (see page 4 for full breakdown). C. Relationship to Congregation Council: The Music Director shall report to the Lead Pastor for Worship, who will communicate worship needs and concerns to the Congregation Council. The Music Director will be responsible for drafting an annual report to the congregation of her/his role in the worship life of this congregation, intended to highlight the musical achievements of that year. The Lead Pastor for Worship must approve all expenditures within the worship ministry budget, including those requested by the Music Director. 1

2 D. Continuing Education and Training: Continuing Education is an expectation of all staff in leadership positions of this congregation. The Music Director s annual continuing education will be agreed to in consultation with the Lead Pastor for Worship and in consideration of the budgetary needs of this congregation. It is generally expected that the Continuing Education of the Music Director would expand her/his personal knowledge/expertise in a new direction (musical content that is unfamiliar to the musician, the parish, or both), with hopes of diversifying and enriching the worship life of the congregation. In compliance with the American Lutheran Church Musicians (hereafter, ALCM ) Guidelines for the Employment of Musicians in the Lutheran Church, the Continuing Education allowance for the Music Director is $800 per year. Up to 8 days per year may be offered to the Music Director for participation in Continuing Education programs. II. Duties and Responsibilities A. Music Leadership and Accompaniment: The Music Director shall provide music for the worship services of this congregation, as requested by the Lead Pastor for Worship. The Music Director shall be responsible for coordinating all accompanying musicians for worship services, including individual performers and musical groups. This includes performers and groups that emerge from within the congregation, as well as non-member talent. The Music Director is responsible for coordinating substitute musical leadership when away on vacation or continuing education, in consideration of the budgetary needs of this congregation. B. Music Programs of the Congregation: The Music Director shall provide leadership of various musical ensembles. This includes groups such as adult choirs, youth choirs, children s choirs and instrumental groups. The exact number and nature of these groups will be based on the gifts and needs of the congregation, and will be determined by the Lead Pastor for Worship and/or any other pastor designated by the Lead Pastor for Worship. The Music Director shall plan and direct rehearsals for the various musical ensembles, as previously determined. The Music Director shall be responsible for the execution of any musical production and/or tour which includes children, youth, or adult members of this congregation. The Lead Pastor for Worship will determine the need, feasibility, and frequency of these musical productions. The Music Director shall identify and coordinate the musical gifts and abilities of congregation members to enhance worship experiences, in consultation with the Lead Pastor for Worship. It is the vision of this congregation that staff endeavor to raise up leaders from within the parish laity, fostering an environment in which all gifts can be creatively shared and celebrated. (, Vision Statement) 2

3 C. Additional Duties: The Music Director shall provide music for special services held at the church, and synodical worship services, held either at the church or at a nearby location. The Music Director shall provide music for weddings and funerals held at this church when they involve members of this congregation. The Music Director shall be compensated for these services, either monetarily from the families or with time off. The Music Director shall provide musical outreach to the community, in conjunction with the normal worship functions of the congregation. This is meant to convey that, beginning with the congregation members themselves, the Music Director shall relate to all people with a spirit of invitation. III. Compensation A. Salary: determined by training and years of experience, calculated with a weekly average of 33 hours devoted to accomplishing work faithfully and proficiently (consistent with ALCM and NC Synod, ELCA recommendations) B. Health Benefits: Portico health benefits (includes disability and dental) are provided; this does not include spouse and/or children. Spouses and children can be covered at the employee s expense. C. Pension: 6% of salary compensation D. Continuing Education: up to $800 per year (one year rollover), up to 8 days E. Vacation: determined by training and years of experience 3

4 Hourly Breakdown of Music Director Expectations While variation is expected within the life of the church, we seek to determine a typical week for each of our staff. What follows is a generalization of what is expected of the Music Director at this church. The liturgical calendar creates variations in these expectations, as do other occasional services that require musical leadership (synodical events, weddings, funerals, etc.). When the demands of the worship life of this church are such that the weekly expectation of 33 hours is greatly exceeded, arrangements can be made with the Lead Pastor for Worship in order to schedule paid time off as compensation. This hourly breakdown will also be a tool used for the annual performance review. Position: Music Director Day of the Week Duties and Responsibilities Time Commitment Sunday Regular and festival music leadership, with worship services at 8:30AM and 11:00AM Rehearsal and performance with musical ensembles (choirs and/or instrumental) Youth music leadership in the late afternoons, as requested (sometimes this will be practice for Youth Musical) Monday Office hours from 9AM-2PM Review of previous day s worship with pastoral staff Planning, practicing, etc. Tuesday Office hours from 9AM-2PM Review/edit worship guide for Sunday Planning, practicing, etc. Potentially rehearsal with one of the ensembles in the evening Wednesday Planning, practicing, etc. Potentially rehearse with children s music in the late afternoons Chancel choir practice in the evening (usually 7:00PM-8:30PM) Wednesday evening worship services, particularly those offered during Advent and Lent Thursday-Saturday Not required to be present at the church, other than for special worship services (funerals, Holy Week, etc.) Practicing in sanctuary, as desired 8 hours 5-7 hours 5-7 hours 8 hours 2-7 hours Not listed above: Youth Musical Tour (if necessary), accompaniment at NC Synod Fall Convocation (if requested by Lead Pastor for Worship), Continuing Education (up to 8 days, planned in consultation with the Lead Pastor for Worship). 4

5 Rationale: The expectations above were determined with serious consideration of the recommendations of the ALCM s Guidelines for the Employment of Musicians in the Lutheran Church, as well as the particular needs of this congregation. The ALCM suggests that a musician who leads worship on a keyboard instrument in 2 or 3 services per week and rehearses an average of 3 choirs will work between hours per week. We believe the requirements of the Music Director at Lutheran Church of the Nativity are met with 33 hours of service per week, a figure which can be reassessed by the Lead Pastor for Worship at the annual evaluation, and officially altered by this congregation s Personnel Committee. We, the undersigned, have read the above description of s Music Director position. This document will serve as the official outline of the expectations of the Music Director at this congregation, yet we understand it is by no means exhaustive. We understand that this document is not a contract, but a description of the Music Director position, its compensation, and its expectations. We agree to use the document for evaluative purposes at a later time, both for the Music Director and the position itself. Music Director, Lead Pastor for Worship, Vice President of Congregation Council, 5